Month: September 2019

How much is enough?

Recently I’ve been thinking a lot about the concept of “enough”…

So what is Enough, exactly?

Enough is the exact amount that provides fulfillment without excess. Less wouldn’t be enough, but more would be overkill. Like in the story of Goldilocks, it is the portion that is neither too hot, nor too cold. And the idea can apply to most things:

  • Enough salary
  • Enough house
  • Enough responsibility
  • Enough leisure time
  • And so on…

The concept is central in the book “Your Money or Your Life”, first written by Vicki Robin and Joe Dominquez over twenty five years ago. The authors argue that when your definition of enough is more than you have right now, you “condemn yourself to the experience of perpetual poverty.” Ouch.

But on the flip side, when you identify your enough, an organize your life in a way that aligns with that definition, you free yourself to find greater purpose and make greater impact in your life and in that of the community.

So, what’s your enough? You may find you already have it.

Actions:

  • Think about the categories where you spend most of your time and energy, e.g. your work (paid or unpaid), home life, hobbies, etc. For each, what would be “enough”? Consider in particular places where you currently feel unsatisfied, and be honest. For example, if it’s a promotion you’re after, would the promotion really be “enough”, or would it just trigger another cycle of desire?
  • Repeat the activity above, but this time thinking about the categories on which you spend most of your money, e.g. house, food, car, health care, travel, etc. Again, what is “enough”? Can you sense any spaces where you might have excess?
  • The next time you shop, think about the construct of “enough”… you may find you’re already at equilibrium.

You can’t be what you can’t see

Earlier this month my little family made a “Fall Dream Board.” We rolled out a piece of paper on the kitchen island, set out a stack of old magazines, and clipped and taped our ideas as the mood moved us. Here’s what we came up with:

An image of a fall-themed mood board made of cut up magazines
Our Fall Dream Board

It was incredible to hear what activities were interesting to each of us, and why. My husband want to find tacos al pastor here in St Louis. My daughter wants to build a castle out of items in the recycling bin. I want to stare at fall leaves (preferably in a midi skirt). We want to spend time in Illinois, and pet goats (?!!)

Here’s the thing… besides ‘just’ being a fun family activity…

I’ve since found myself feeling more optimistic and inspired than I have felt in a long time.

What’s important is that I don’t feel pressure to actually do everything on the list; it’s a Dream Board, not a “To Do List”, after all. But still, keeping the ideas posted on the wall helps serve as a daily reminder of our hopes and hold us accountable.

I’m not sure where the quote came from, but “you can’t be what you can’t see.”

Allowing ourselves the space and time to dream a bit – and to really visualize those dreams – sets us up to make the choices and take the actions to make those dreams a reality. For me, I’m looking forward to a special fall season.

IDEAS TO ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES:

  • Make a themed dream board – either alone or with family or friends. It could be a seasonal board, it could be focused on a goal you’ve set, it could be around travel, hobbies, career goals, whatever.
  • Notice what themes emerge: indoor vs outdoor, activities vs things, alone vs group, etc. What colors, materials, smells does it evoke? Reflect on what this means for how and where you choose to spend your time.
  • Now, look at your calendar. How might you preemptively align your calendar with your Dream Board? What activities do you need to say “no” to? What do you need to make space for?

To be a writer, you have to write.

Recently I was pondering how I’ve always wanted to be a writer. About how someday, somewhere, maybe, I’ll actually become a writer. And then it struck me… the only thing keeping me from being a writer is the simple fact that I wasn’t writing.

Picture of a person writing in a notebook with a pencil. There is an empty coffee cup next to the notebook.
Photo by Kat Stokes on Unsplash

It’s that straightforward. Sometimes, the only gap between the person you are today, and the person you want to be, is that of ACTION. Luckily, the solution is equally straightforward:

Do the thing that makes you who you want to be.

How to be a teacher? Teach. A class. A friend. A YouTube video.

How to be a runner? Run. It doesn’t have to be pretty, or far. Just go.

How to be an investor? Invest. Open a Betterment account. Deposit $5.

You get the point. Whatever it is – channel all those Nike commercials and “Just do it”.

For me… I’m hitting “post” and committing to show up a couple times of week.

And just like that…. I’m a writer.